q1. Describe the stasis in the play: where, when, who, what, etc. in a paragraph.
The play takes place on the Westside of LA and it follows the formative years of Brenda Wong Aoki. She is of mixed racial identity living in a low-income neighborhood. She grows up amongst a community of Pacific Islanders, as well as other racial minorities. Her fathers owns a drugstore and her mother makes all of her children's clothes. Brenda doesn't feel like an outsider within her community but begins to experience being different once she enters high school and is placed in an advanced class.
2. What is the intrusion?
The intrusion occurs when Brenda is placed in an advanced class away from Bullet, Smoke and her other friends. Here she meets students from wealthy backgrounds like Sherry and Steve Newcomb. She begins to learn about their world and feels torn between the Westside and her new friends. Trouble arises once she mixes her two worlds.
3. What is the unique factor?
The unique factor is that Brenda Aoki is choosing to tell her story and how her background has shaped her over time on this particular day.
4. What is the dramatic question that should be answered by the end of the play?
Will Brenda stay on the Westside?
Will Brenda stay with Kali?
5. Provide an illustration of the two kinds of exposition that the play has in it.
Information known to most: Kali sold Smoke to the DEA.
Information known to one: Kali dies at the end.Brenda is the only to know this until the end.
6. Identify the most theatrical moment in the play and of what importance it seems to be.
The shooting at the end of the play is shocking and unexpected. In a way, Kali is the only thing tying Brenda back to the Westside. His death symbolizes her freedom to leave and really start her own life.
7. List some of the themes of the play.
Identity
Ethnicity
Growing up
socioeconomic status
8. What do the narrator want and what are some obstacles that stand in the way of her getting what she wants?
Brenda struggles with figuring out where she fits in and where she wants to fit in. She finds that much of her identity is defined by who she's with and she wants to change that. I think in part, this is why she's goes to San Francisco, to find herself. She also desperately wants to fit in with both groups but quickly finds out that she can't.
9. Describe some possible images in the play and how does the title help us understand the play.
The play begins with descriptive language about the imagery of the Westside: "I grew up where the sunsets are a brilliant red.." This helps set the scene and allows us to see that despite the socioeconomic status of the people on the westside, it is a beautiful place to Brenda.
10. Briefly define the family relationships that are examined in the play.
Brenda struggles in that she is very close to her family. She feels burdened to support her family but she also needs to find herself.
The play takes place on the Westside of LA and it follows the formative years of Brenda Wong Aoki. She is of mixed racial identity living in a low-income neighborhood. She grows up amongst a community of Pacific Islanders, as well as other racial minorities. Her fathers owns a drugstore and her mother makes all of her children's clothes. Brenda doesn't feel like an outsider within her community but begins to experience being different once she enters high school and is placed in an advanced class.
2. What is the intrusion?
The intrusion occurs when Brenda is placed in an advanced class away from Bullet, Smoke and her other friends. Here she meets students from wealthy backgrounds like Sherry and Steve Newcomb. She begins to learn about their world and feels torn between the Westside and her new friends. Trouble arises once she mixes her two worlds.
3. What is the unique factor?
The unique factor is that Brenda Aoki is choosing to tell her story and how her background has shaped her over time on this particular day.
4. What is the dramatic question that should be answered by the end of the play?
Will Brenda stay on the Westside?
Will Brenda stay with Kali?
5. Provide an illustration of the two kinds of exposition that the play has in it.
Information known to most: Kali sold Smoke to the DEA.
Information known to one: Kali dies at the end.Brenda is the only to know this until the end.
6. Identify the most theatrical moment in the play and of what importance it seems to be.
The shooting at the end of the play is shocking and unexpected. In a way, Kali is the only thing tying Brenda back to the Westside. His death symbolizes her freedom to leave and really start her own life.
7. List some of the themes of the play.
Identity
Ethnicity
Growing up
socioeconomic status
8. What do the narrator want and what are some obstacles that stand in the way of her getting what she wants?
Brenda struggles with figuring out where she fits in and where she wants to fit in. She finds that much of her identity is defined by who she's with and she wants to change that. I think in part, this is why she's goes to San Francisco, to find herself. She also desperately wants to fit in with both groups but quickly finds out that she can't.
9. Describe some possible images in the play and how does the title help us understand the play.
The play begins with descriptive language about the imagery of the Westside: "I grew up where the sunsets are a brilliant red.." This helps set the scene and allows us to see that despite the socioeconomic status of the people on the westside, it is a beautiful place to Brenda.
10. Briefly define the family relationships that are examined in the play.
Brenda struggles in that she is very close to her family. She feels burdened to support her family but she also needs to find herself.